Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  VWs need some quality control - 2000 Volkswagen GTI
  By 1eire - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I took a trip from Texas to NY and was impressed by the ride quality, the effortless way the engine pulled the car through mountains, and that I was getting 30+ highway mpg during the trip. In NY I stopped at a toll booth and rolled down the window. The window actually fell into the door and was rattling around. I found a VW dealer and they fixed it for free even though it was barely out of warranty. Nice but a window regulator shouldnt fail after 24k miles. The passenger window failed at 30k miles. VWs like the GTI and Passat drive beautifully but are also high priced for their categories and the quality and reliability should match the price. Unfortunately, that is not happening.

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  TDI GLS 5 speed - 2000 Volkswagen Golf
  By jamesroberts - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Ride and build quality is fantastic. Feel much like a european car that is $10,000 more.

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  Not bad - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jetdoc - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I had this car for 4 years and it has been real good. I had only one problem w/ the car, the alarm system broke. The car is easy to maitain but repairs can be costly. Needs better fuel economy. Great car for the city, getting into tight spaces but to small for a family w/ kids.

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  Mixed Emotions - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jetta J - September 21 - 10:00 am

  I am approaching 30K on my 2001 GLX 5- speed and am sad to say that I wont own it long enough to reach 31K. I love the look and all the neat gadgets the Jetta has to offer-it truly is a fun car and I havent seen any other has everything I could want and more. Pretty crummy that a cd player isnt standard on the top-of-the-line model. Unfortunately, the warranty is out and the problems are just increasing. The passenger driver side window went down and got stuck, the gas cover motor needed fixed and then replacing ($160), engine problem ($800+), driver side door not aligned properly, and the heat is no longer hot. For $25K, I expect my car to be reliable far past the 25K mile warranty.

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  Value for Dollar Spent - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jschade - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Own two Jettas and a Passat, like the Jetta driveability and road feel better!

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  Love it - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tom - September 21 - 9:10 am

  Bought the 07 value edition not long after they came out in 06. Had minor computer issues initially, but otherwise the last year and half have been trouble free. Bought the silver one, tinted the windows and upgraded the wheels and tires and it really is a beautiful car. Have taken it on several long trips and my wife and daughter love it, very comfortable, quiet, plenty of room and averages about 31 mpg at 75 mph. Turbo engine is excellent - cant imagine why anyone would want the 6 cylinder.

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  The 50-mile review - 2012 Volkswagen GTI
  By nkanafan - September 20 - 5:43 pm

  This is a 50 mile "first impressions" for my GTI autobahn, DSG, 4dr. The plethora of positive reviews online are right: excellent build quality, amazing driving dynamics, quiet smooth ride for size, excellent brakes, and great looking with a squat, low stance. The DSG takes getting used to and does feel hesitant at first but "squirts" you around town. As with previous GTIs, torque is abundant. I put two boosters and a nine year old in the back no problem! They are skinny though. Issues. There are a few minor ergonomic foibles. With the correct driving position for me, the steering wheel obstructs the top of speedo. Some controls are too low and parts of them cannot be visualized.

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  BuyerBware - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Beyond Frustrated - September 20 - 11:00 am

  Many miles logged on this unreliable vehicle, with MANY service/repair trips to dealer after less than 1 year/8K miles. Elecrical system, warning light problems, trim breaking/falling apart - little annoyances = BIG frustrations! Even more frustrating is wasted time spent trying to make an expensive new car "right". A difficult life lesson, and major ouch on depreciation! Maybe I could give it away and claim a tax deduction? I was told 2005 Touareg has the "bugs" worked out - Would you like to spend 40K+ to find out? (I think not!) Getting ready to clash with VW on a "solution" - this car IS a LEMON (whether they admit it or not).

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  Bright Car for Bright people - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By AndyI - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Simply the best!

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  surprised - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By air - September 20 - 2:00 am

  i wasnt sure if i liked the feel of the car before i bought i,t having previously driven a saab, but its really grown on me. its fun to drive and handles quite well- very very smooth on the freeway and tight on twisty roads. and very quiet. gas mileage in the city isnt so great, even with a light foot. hopefully this might improve with time. (only have 500 miles so far) not much storage space in the front despite the little middle console-my cds are on the floor.